Electric switch.



' Pat'ented luly I6, 1901. C. A. HUS'SEY.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

(Application filad Nov. 1, 1900.)

3 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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No. 678,492. Patented July 16, mm. c. A. HUSSEY.

(Application filed Nov. 1, 1900.)

(No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2,

: ATTORNEYS No. 678,492. Patonted luly l6, l90l. c. A. HUSSEY.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

(Application filed Nov. 1, 1900.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Shea! 3;

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. W ATTORNEYS Unites STATES P TENT ()rrrcn.

CHARLES A. HUSSEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM I. PINOKARD, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPESIZIIGATIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 678,492, dated July 16, 1901. Application filed November 1, 1900. Serial No. 35,118. (No model.)

.To ctZZ whom it may concern;

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. HUSSEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in electric switches, and more particularly in regulating-switches for multifilament incandescent lamps; and it consists in the novel construction of a switch adapted to throw one of two filaments or branch circuits into a line-circuit singly or to throw both of said filaments or branch circuits into the linecircuit in series or in multiple at will, and also to break the line-circuit at both line-terminals of the switch each time the switch is operated to change themanner of connection of such filaments to the line-circuit and before the circuit is broken at the circuit-changing contacts of the switch, so as to avoid arcing at such circuit-changing contacts.

The switch herein described is particularly intended for regulating the intensity of illumination produced by a number of multifilament lamps, differing in this respect from the ordinary socket-switches, and may, for instance, be mounted upon the wall of a room and employed for regulating the light emitted from a chandelier provided with a plurality of multifilament incandescent lamps. .Such a switch must take care of much heavier currents than the ordinary socket-switches hitherto customarily employed for regulating the light of multifilament lamps are capable of taking care of without danger of arcing at the contacts and consequent destruction of the contact-brushes, and hence such a switch must be provided with means for preventing arcing at the contact-points.

The objects of my invention are to improve the switches employed for regulating the light produced by incandescent lamps, to adapt the switch for controlling a plurality of lamps and for use with currents of relatively great strength, to prevent arcing atthe contactpoints of the switch, and to make the switch as simple and inexpensive as possible. These objects are attained in the switch herein described, and illustrated in the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification, inwhich the same reference characters indicate the same or corresponding parts, and in which- Figure 1 is a top view, with the cover removed, of one form of switch constructed in accordance with my invention, the view also showing diagrammatically two double-filament incandescent lamps and the circuits connecting the same to the switch. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the irregular sectionline A A of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a bottom View of the switch. Fig. 4. is a central section of the base portion of a two-filament incandescent lamp and of a keyless socket to receive said base. Fig. 5 is a detail section on the section-line B of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 2, but showing a slightly-different form of switch. Fig. 7 is a detail top View of the cam employed in the switch shown in Fig. 6; and Fig. 8 is a top view, with the cover removed, of the form of switch shown in Fig. 6.

In the drawings, a designates the base of the switch, formed, preferably, of insulating material, and b the cover thereof.

0 and d designate contact and binding posts forming line-terminals for the switch. e and f designate other posts, upon the opposite side of the switch-base, which support contact-brushes g and h, respectively. These brushes are adapted to make contact, respectively, with posts 0 and d.

Between the brushes g and h is located a key-shaft 2', provided with a key 70, by which it may be rotated. Said shaft is provided with a shoulder Z, upon which rests a foursided cam in. Said cam is not rigidly sesured to shaft 1', but is connected therewith by a pin a, carried by the shaft and working in a recess 0 of the cam. When the key is rotated, the corners of the cam press the brushes 9 and it out against their respective contact-posts c and d. In order to hold the cam stationary when once the springs or brushes have been pressed firmly against said posts, said brushes are provided with recesses p and g, which receive the corners of the cam.

The key-shaft i has secured to it a contact finger or brush 0', adapted to make contact successively with contact-pieces s, t, and it as the shaft is revolved. Contact-piece s is likewise a binding-post forming one of the terminals of the lamp-circuits. The same is true of contact-piece a. The post 6, above referred to, is also a binding-post forming a third terminal for the lan'lp-circuits. In the construction shown in Fig. 1 contact-piece s is provided with a curved extensionpiece o, the end of which is opposite contact-piece t and in a position such that brush or finger 1' will make contact with it. Finger r also carries a finger it), formed of insulating material and projecting in a direction opposite to finger 0. To post 6 is secured a brush w, adapted to be pressed against contact-piece s and the end of which has a return-bend, so as to give it elasticity. This brush is above fingers r and to; but it is provided with a downwardly-projecting portion y, formed, preferably, of insulating material, with which finger 10 may contact, so as to press brush or against contact-piece s.

In order to insure quick breaking of the circuit at posts 0 and d when the key is turned, reinforcing-springs z,secured to posts c andf and bearing against brushes g and 7t, are provided. The width of the faces of contact-pieces s, t, and u, with which finger 4',

makes contact, is such that when key 76 is turned to change the connections the circuit is broken at posts 0 and d before finger 1" leaves that contact-piece with which it has been in contact, nor is contact between posts 0 and d and brushes g and 7t reestablished until finger r has established contact with the next contact-piece. Inasmuch as the cam is not rigidly connected to the key-shaft, once it has started to turn from the oblique position in which the circuit is complete, as shown in Fig. 1, and as soon as its corners have left the recesses in brushes g and h, said brushes and their reinforcingsprin gs 2 will throw the cam around quickly, in so doing breaking contact between brushes g and h and their posts 0 and d by a snap action and leaving wide gaps between said posts and their brushes. Arcing is thereby avoided.

On the base of the switch there are two conductors 1 and 2. (Shown in Fig. 3 and shown also in Fig. 1 in dotted lines.) Conductor 1 connects contact-pieces i and u. Conductor 2 connects postf and key-shaft t'.

The circuits which maybe employed when the switch is to be used for regulating the action of two or more two-filament lamps are shown in Fig. 1, and a keyless socket and lamp-base which may be employed are shown in Figs. 4: and 5. A two-filament lamp must necessarily have at least three contact-pieces on its base in order that the filaments may be placedin circuit singly, in series, or in multiple. Such a base may have one termiswitch are in circuit in series.

nal or contact-piece formed by the ordinary screw-threaded metal shell 3, surrounding the base of the lamp. A second contactpiece may be a central pin t and athird contact-piece may be a ring 5, surrounding but separate from pin 4. The socket may have corresponding contact-pieces 6, 7, and 8 and brackets 9, 10, and 11, connected, respectively, to said socket contact-pieces and pro- Vided with binding-screws, to which wires may be attached; but I do not limit myself to the use of such a lamp-base orsuchala1npsocket. In Fig. 1 the lamp-sockets are omitted and the wires from the switch are shown as it directly connected to the contact-pieces of the lamp-base.

Referring now to the wiring diagram shown in Fig. 1, one wire (numberedli) is connected to binding-post s and to contact-pieces 5 of the lamps. One filament of each lamp (numbered 13 in the diagram) is connected to the terminal 5 of that lamp. A second wire 14 is connected to binding-post c and to the contact-pieces 3 of the lamps. In each lamp the filament numbered 15 in the diagram has one end connected to the contactpiece 3 of that lamp. A third wire 16 is connected to binding-post t6 and to the contactpieces 4: of the lamps. Both filaments of each lamp are connected to the contact-piece 4- of the lamp.

In the operation of the switch when the contact-finger is in the position shown in Fig. 1 both filaments of each lamp controlled by the The circuit may be traced as follows: from post d,through brush h, to post f, thence through conductor 2 on the bottom of the switch-base to keyshaft 2', thence through contact-finger r to contact piece and post 5, through conductor 12 and both filaments of each lamp in series to conductor 14., post e,,and through brush 9 to post 0. From this position a turn of the key through one-eighth of a revolution first breaks contact between brushes g and 7t and posts 0 and d and then breaks contact bctween finger r and contact-piece 3. Since the circuit is broken first at the posts 0 and d and by a snap action, there is no arcing at the time of the breaking of the circuit. A further turn of the key through one-eighth of a revolution first brings finger 0' upon contact-piecet and then brings brushes 9 and 77. into contact with posts 0 and cl, respectively. A circuit is then complete from post (I, as before, through brush it, conductor 2, and finger r, to contactpiece '15, conductor 1, post a, wire 16, filaments 15 of the lamps, wire 14, and brush g to post 0. In this position of the key, therefore, only the filaments 15 of the lamps are in circuit. A further turn of the key through one-eighth of a revolution breaks the circuit again, and another similar turn of the key reestablishes the circuit through filaments 15, as before, by bringing finger 1- into contact with contact-piece u, the circuit being then from post d, through brush h, conductor 2, finger IIO t, and post to, through wire 16, filaments 15 of the lamps, wire 14, and brush 9 to post 0; but at the same time the finger w, pressing against the piece y, depending from the brush 0:, presses said brush into contact with post 8, thereby completing a circuit in each lamp from Wire 16, through filament 13, to wire 12, and thence through post 3 and brush 00 to brush 9 and back to post 0. In this position of the key, therefore, the filaments of the lamps are connected to the line in multiple. A further turn of the key through one-eighth of a revolution breaks the circuit, as before, and a still further rotation of the key brings finger 7" into contact with the extension 4) of contact-piece s and brings brushes g and 71 into contact with posts 0 and cl, thereby completing the circuit through both filaments of each lamp in series.

The object of providing post 8 with extension o is as follows: It the post were not provided with such extension, the circuit through the lamps would not be completed when the key is turned so as to bring the finger r intothe position opposite contact-piece 25, and this notwithstanding the fact that the person operating the switch in turning the key to this position would have encountered the same resistance to the turning of the key, due to the springs 2, that had been encountered in turning the key to any of the preceding on positions. Such a person might under such circnmstances believe that he had turned the key to the proper position to light the lamps, but that the failure of the lamps to light was due to derangement of the switch. Providing the post 3 with the extension 1) avoids any possibility of such misunderstanding.

Misunderstanding of the operation of the switch may also be avoided by the construction shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8. In this construction the two main brushes (there numbered l7 and 18) are on different levels and the cam (there numbered 19) is a double cam having the form of two four-sided figures, each with one corner rounded off, superimposed over one another, the rounded corners being opposite each other, lVhen this construction is employed, there is no resistance to the motion of the key from the time when finger 0 leaves contact-piece u until it approaches contact-piece 5; nor are the lampiilaments connected to the line in series until the finger r is in contact with contact-piece s and until the cam has pressed the brushes 17 and 18 against the posts 0 and d.

Since the switch is capable of connecting any two branch circuits with a line-circuit singly, in series, or in multiple, it is obvious that instead of using double-filament lamps with this switch two single-filament lamps may be used in the place of each double-filament lamp.

Having thus completely described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, i-s

1. In an electric switch, the combination,

with circuit-changing devices for connecting a plurality of circuits singly, in series or in multiple with a line-circuit, of separate quickbreak contact-pieces in circuit with the circuit-changing devices in closed-circuit positions of the parts, and means for operating said quick-break contact-pieces conjointly with the circuit-varying devices.

2. In an electric switch, the combination, with circuit-changing devices for connecting a plurality of circuits singly, in series or in multiple with a line-circuit, of separate quickbreak contact-pieces in circuit with the cir cuit-changing devices in closed-circuit positions of the parts, and means for operating said quick-break contact-pieces conjointly with the circuit-varying devices, adapted to break the circuit at the quick-break contact prior to loss of contact in the circuit-varying portion of the switch.

3. In an electric switch, the combination, with circuit-changing devices for connecting a plurality of circuits singly, in series or in multiple with a line-circuit, of separate quickbreak contact-pieces in circuit with the circuit-changing devices in closed-circuit positions of the parts, and means for operating said quick-break contact-pieces conjointly with the circuit-varying devices, adapted to close the circuit at the quick-break contact after contact has been made in the circuitvarying portion of the switch, and to break the circuit at the quickbreak contact prior to loss of contact in the circuit-varying portion of the switch.

4:. In an electric switch, the combination, with circuit-changing devices for connecting a plurality of circuits singly, in series or in multiple with a line-circuit, of separate circuit making and breaking contact-pieces in circuit with the circuit-varying devices in closed circuit positions of the parts, and means for operating said separate circuit making and breaking contact nieces conjointlywith the circuit-varying devices,adapted to close the circuit through said separate circuit making and breaking contact-pieces after contact is complete in the circuit-varying portion of the switch.

5, In an electric switch, the combination, with circuit-changing devices for connecting a plurality of circuits singly, in series or in multiple with a line-circuit, of two sets of quick-break contact-pieces, each set separate from the other set and from the circuit-changing devices, and located each between one of the line-terminals of the switch and said circuit-changing devices, and means for operating said quick-break contact-pieces conjointly with the circuit-varying devices.

6. In an electric switch, the combination, with circuit-changing devices for varying the relative arrangement of aplurality of circuits with respect to a line-circuit, of separate quick-break contact-pieces in circuit with the circuit-changing devices in closed-circuit positions of the parts, and means for operat- IIO xii.

ing said quiclebreak contactpicces con jointly with the circuit-varying contact-pieces.

7. In an electric switch, the combination, with circuit-changing devices for varying the relative arrangement of a plurality of circuits with respect to a line-circuit, of separate quick-break contact-pieces in circuit with the circuit-changing devices in closed-circuit positions of the parts, and means for operating said quick-break contact-pieces conjointly with the circuit-varying devices, adapted to break the circuit at the quick-break contact prior to loss of contact in the circuit-varying portion of the switch.

8. In an electric switch, the combination, with circuit-changing devices for varying the relative arrangement of a plurality of circuits with respect to a line-circuit, of separate quick-break contactpieces in circuit with the circuit-changing devices in closed-circuit positions of the parts, and means for operat ing said quick-break contact-pieces conjointly with the circuit-varying devices,'adapted to close the circuit at the quick-break contact after contact has been made in the circuitvarying portion of the switch, and to break the circuit at the quick-break contact prior to loss of contact in the circuit-varying portion of the switch.

9. In an electric switch, the combination, with circuitchangingdevices for varying the relative arrangement of a plurality of circuits with respect to a line-circuit, of separate circuit making and breaking contact-pieces in circuit with the circuit-varying devices in closed circuit positions of the parts, and means for operating said separate circuit making and breaking contact pieces conjointly with the circuit varying devices, adapted to close the circuit through said separate circuit making and breaking contactpieces attercontact is complete in the circuitva-rying portion of the switch.

10. In an electric switch, the combination, with circuit-changing devices for varyingthe relativearrangement of a plurality of circuits with respect to a line-circuit, of two sets of quick-break contact-pieces, each set separate from the other set and from the circuit-changing devices, and located each between one of the line-terminals of the switch and said circuit-changing devices, and means for operating said quick-break contact-pieces conjointly with the circuit-varying devices.

11. The combination, with a plurality of electric incandescent-lamp filaments, of a switch having circuit-changing devices connected to said filaments and adapted, when operated, to vary the relative arrangement of said filaments with respect to a line-circuit, having also separate quick-break contactpieces in circuit with the said circuit-changing devices in closed-circuit positions of the parts, and having also means for operating said quick-break contact-pieces conjointly with the circuit-varying devices.

12. The combination, with a plurality of incandescent-lamp filaments,of aswitch having circuit-changing devices connected to said filaments and adapted, when operated, to vary the connection of said filaments with respect to a line-circuit, having also separate quiclebreak contact-pieces in circuit with the said circuit-ehanging devices in closed-circuit positions of the parts, and having also means for operating said quick-break contact-pieces conjointly with the circuit-varying devices, adapted to close the circuit at the quickbreak contact after contact has been made in the circuit-varying portion ofthe switch, and to break the circuit at the quick-break contact prior to loss of contact in the circuitvarying portion of the switch.

1.3. The combination, with two incandescent-lamp filaments, of a switch having ciredit-changing devices for connecting said filamerits singly, in series or in multiple with a line-circuit, having also separate quick-break contact-pieces in circuit with the circuit changing devices in closed-circuit positions of the parts, and having also means for operating said quick-break contact-pieces con jointly with the circuit-varying devices.

14-. The combination, with two incandescent-lamp filaments, of a switch having circuit-changing devices for connecting said filaments singly, in series or in multiple with a line-circuit, having also two sets of quickbreak contact-pieces, each set separate from the other set and from the circuit-changing devices, and located each between one of the line-terminals of the switch and said circuitchanging devices, and having also means for operating said quick-break contact-pieces conjointly with the circuit-varying devices.

15. In an electric switch, the combination, with circuit-varying contact-pieces, and a revoluble member for operating the same, of line-terminals, contact-brushes adapted to make contact therewith and connected to said circuit varying contact pieces, and means, operated by said revoluble member, for bringing said brushes into contact with said line terminals at intervals.

16. In an electric switch, the combination, with contact-pieces adapted to coact with a revoluble contact-piece, a revoluble contact-- piece, and line-terminals, of contact-brushes adapted to make contact with said line-terminals and controlling the circuit through said revoluble and fixed contact-pieces, and a cam carried by said revoluble contact-piece,adapted to press said brushes against the line-terminals when the revoluble contact-piece is in contact with one of the stationary contactpieces with which it coacts.

17. In an electric switch, the combination, with contact-pieces adapted to coact with a revoluble contact-piece, a revoluble contactpiece, and line-terminals, of spring contactbrushes adapted to make contact with said line terminals and controlling the circuit through said revoluble and stationary contact-pieces, and a cam carried by said revoluble contact-piece, but having a loose connection therewith, and adapted to press said brushes against the line-terminals when the revoluble contact-piece is in contact with one of the stationary contact-pieces with which it coacts.

18. In an electric switch, the combination, with circuit-varying contact-pieces, and a revoluble member for operating the same, of stationary contact-pieces and spring-brushes adapted to contact therewith, and together forming circuit-controlling devices controlling the'circuit through said circuit-varying contact-pieces,-and means, operated by said revoluble member, for closing contact between said brushes and their corresponding contact-pieces when contact is closed in the circuit-varying portion of the switch.

19. In an electric switch, the combination, with circuit-varying contact-pieces, and a revoluble member for operating the same, of stationary contact-pieces and spring-brushes adapted to coact therewith,and together forming circuit-controlling devices controlling the circuit through said circuit-varying contactpieces, and a cam on said revoluble member, for closing contact between said brushes and their corresponding contact-pieces when contact is closed in the circuit-varying portion of the switch, said cam having a loose connection with the said revoluble member, so that, under the pressure of the springbrushes, the cam may move independently of the revoluble member, producing a snap break.

20. In an electric switch, the combination, with circuit-varying mechanism comprising three stationary contact-pieces, two of which are electrically connected, a contact-finger adapted to make contact with said contactpieces successively, and revolubly mounted, a brush adapted to make contact with the third of said stationary contact-pieces at intervals, and means, operated in conjunction with the contact-finger, for bringing said brush into contact with its corresponding contact-piece when said finger is in contact with one of said connected contact-pieces, of means for rotating said contact finger, coacting spring-brushes and stationary contact-pieces together forming two circuit-controlling devices one of which controls the circuit through the brush of said circuitvarying contact mechanism and the other of which controls the circuit through said revoluble contact-finger,

i and a cam rotating in conjunction with said finger and adapted to operate said brushes.

21. In an electric switch, the combination,

with circuit-varying contact mechanism containing three contact-pieces located substantially at three corners of a square, one of the contact pieces having an extension reaching substantially to the fourth corner of the square, and a pivoted contact-finger adapted to make contact with said contact-pieces successively, of separate q nick-break contactpieces controlling the circuit through said circuit varying contact mechanism, and

means for operating said quick-break con tact-pieces and the contact-finger in conjunction, arranged to complete a circuit through the quick-break contact when said finger is in contact with its contact-pieces, and to break said circuit at the quick-break contact-pieces when the finger is moved to aposition intermediate between two of its con tact-pieces.

22. In an electric switch, the combination,

with circuit-varying contact mechanism containing three contact-pieces located substantially at three corners of a square, one of the contact-pieces having an extension reaching substantially to the fourth corner of the square, and a pivoted contact-finger adapted to make contact with said contact-pieces successively, of two stationary contact-pieces and two springbrushes adapted to coact therewith and forming,with said coacting con 0 tact-pieces, quick-break circuit-controlling de-' vices controlling the circuit through said circuit-varying mechanism, a four-sided cam located between said brushes for operating the same, and means for rotating the cam and' 5 contact-fingers in conjunction.

23. In an electric switch, the combination, with two stationary contact-pieces, and two spring-brushes adapted to coact therewith and forming therewith quick-break circuitcontrolling devices, reinforcing-springs for said brushes, a key-shaft, a cam thereon but having a loose connection therewith, for operatin g said brushes, and circuit-varying contact mechanism likewise operated by said 10 

